The result of a “fish-and-fowl” mating of a sprinting sire and a staying mare, Rough Shod II fulfilled the tongue-in-cheek observation that such foals usually end up with the stamina of the sprinter and the speed of the stayer. As a broodmare, however, she was able to transmit the best from her mixed heritage when bred to stallions with a strong element of brilliance in their makeup, becoming a notable foundation mare whose descendants include several important sires.

Race record

7starts, 1win, 1 second, 1 third

1947:

2nd Wykeham Handicap (ENG, 6FT, York)

As an individual

A well-balanced, medium-sized bay mare, Rough Shod II was rangy and roomy, perhaps a bit coarse but essentially correct with a good shoulder and hip. She had large feet, lop ears and a Roman nose.

As a producer

Rough Shod II produced 11 named foals, of which eight started and seven won. Her important foals were as follow:

Ridan (1959, by Nantallah) was the co-champion American juvenile male of 1961. He became a useful sire with 31 stakes winners (but none approaching his own high class) from 344 named foals.

Lt. Stevens (1961, by Nantallah) won the 1964 Saranac Handicap and the 1965 John B, Campbell Handicap and Palm Beach Handicap. A good sire, he begot 49 stakes winners from 422 named foals and is the broodmare sire of 1988 American Horse of the Year Alysheba and the good sire Lear Fan.

Moccasin (1963, by Nantallah) was the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1965 and shared American Horse of the Year honors with Roman Brother. A great broodmare in her own right, she produced seven stakes winners including 1973 English and Irish champion juvenile male Apalachee (by Round Table), a successful sire, and Belted Earl (by Damascus), the Irish champion sprinter and older male of 1982. She is the second dam of four stakes winners including 1990 Santa Anita Oaks (USA-I) winner Hail Atlantis and is the third dam of the good sire Stormy Atlantic.

Thong (1964, by Nantallah) ran second in the 1966 Alcibiades Stakes and third in the 1966 Selima Stakes and Golden Rod Stakes. She produced 1972 Irish champion juvenile and 1973 English champion miler Thatch (by Forli), multiple Grade I winner King Pellinore (by Round Table), 1974 Coronation Stakes (ENG-II) winner Lisadell (by Forli) and stakes winner Espadrille (by Damascus). Through her daughter Special (by Forli), Thong is the second dam of 1980 French champion miler Nureyev, a first-rate sire, and third dam of one of the greatest sires of all time, Sadler's Wells, whose full brother Fairy King was the French champion sire of 1996. Thong is also the second dam of 1985 BBA Ireland-Goffs National Stakes (IRE-I) winner Tate Gallery, 1989 CIGA Grand Criterium winner Jade Robbery, 1992 Smurfit National Stakes (IRE-I) winner Fatherland and 2008 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-I) winner Archipenko and the third dam of 2010 American champion older male Blame.

ConnectionsRough Shod II was bred and owned by Major H. S. Cayzer. She was trained by Peter Beasley. Following her racing career, Cayzer sold Rough Shod IIto Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Shirley for 1,600 guineas at the 1947 Newmarket December sakes. She was imported to the USA by A. B. "Bull" Hancock, Jr., who purchased the mare for 3,500 guineas at the 1951 Newmarket December sales. She was then acquired by Thomas Girdler, who thus became the official breeder of Gambetta, the My Babu filly that she was carrying at the time of her purchase. Hancock re-acquired Rough Shod II after Girdler's death and thereafter bred her foals in partnership with William Haggin Perry. Rough Shod II died from a ruptured uterine artery a few hours after producing her last foal, the 1965 Sir Gaylord colt Cleat.

Pedigree notes

Rough Shod II is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to 1948 Leicestershire Oaks winner Corinacy (by Mieuxcé) and to Gold Mary (by Solario), dam of the stakes-winning Nearco fillies Flying Slipper and Nectarine and their multiple stakes-producing full sister Sarie. Gold Mary is also the dam of Spring Light (by Signal Light), dam of 1961 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Light Year (by Chamier). Rough Shod II is also a half sister to stakes-placed Jennydang (by Colombo), whose stakes-winning son Pewter Platter (by Owen Tudor) became a good sire in Brazil, and to Miss Know All (by Rhodes Scholar), sire of the good stakes winner Le Sage (by Chamossaire).